COVENANT
BLUE LIGHT RESPONSE T
Forging tremendous links between service and community
he Armed Force Community Covenant Scheme has funded the purchase of 4x4 vehicles for
military First Response Teams.
NHS Ambulance Services employ First Response schemes across England, Wales and Scotland to provide vital links in the chain of survival. The schemes fall in to two categories: The first are the Community First Responders who provide an emergency medical response from their own home or workplace, usually in private vehicles or possibly on foot. Most of the tasking is reaction to an emergency call. Community First Responders typically cover a few miles. Response is at normal road speed and they carry no privileges.
The second arm of the service are the Co-Responders who are staffed by military, police or fire personnel. Co-Responders respond in marked service vehicles, will have received response driver training and often cover shifts with crews on standby. The blue light response used by Co-responders increases the area they cover but does not always mean they are necessarily fist at the scene. [Non-volunteer Responders include Solo Responders using a car or motorcycle and Rapid Responders, the ambulance service teams.]
The signing of Community Covenants around the country are forging better links between the Armed Forces and civilian community and the funding of vehicles for Co-responders is a perfect example of this co-operation in action.
Amanda Cundy of the South Central Ambulance Service said: “Military Co-Responders provide an invaluable service to their local communities by responding to immediately life-threatening illness or injury together with South Central Ambulance Service. 4x4 capability will enable them to be even more effective in bad weather particularly in the more rural and remote areas of South Buckinghamshire.”
Flt Sgt Steve Whitlock, the team leader of RAF Halton Co-Responders said: “We are delighted to have this additional vehicle. The BMW X3’s 4x4 specification will increase our capability in Buckinghamshire throughout the winter months and in summer will be another dynamic resource to help South Central Ambulance Service save lives and improve patient outcomes in the community.”
A hugely successful scheme, each military Co-Responder team comprises 25 members with more being trained and mentored. The South Central Ambulance Service has
the largest Military Co-Responder scheme in the UK involving military personnel from RAFs Halton, High Wycombe, Brize Norton, Benson, Odiham and MOD Corsham to co- respond with the local ambulance service to medical emergency 999 calls. All co- responders are volunteers and have clocked up 12,409 hours, worked 1,589 shifts and covered 161,827 miles.
A little to the north a further team is now also fully up and running at RAF Henlow. Operating across Bedfordshire and the surrounding area in support of the East of England Ambulance Service Trust, Cpl Gareth Jones a survival equipment fitter at the Centre for Aviation Medicine at RAF Henlow has been a co-responder for over 5 years.
Cpl Gareth Jones said: “The work is really rewarding and we have already visited a few incidents successfully by providing that vital support until an ambulance arrives.”
The volunteers using the cars are all serving personnel. Not only are personnel going through intense medical training to become a first responder but many are also attending advanced driving courses giving them the ability to drive under blue light emergency conditions.
The First Responder scheme is huge success story with more joining on a regular basis. The scheme is always looking for keen, motivated members of HM Forces to volunteer and participate in this rewarding scheme. And there is overwhelmingly grateful to personnel who give their time and help to make such a difference.
Buckinghamshire County Council Chairman Carl Etholen with Cpl James Collins and Sgt Abigail Ellis
www.raf-ff.org.uk Envoy Spring 2014 33
Photographs © Buckinghamshire County Council. Digital Asset Management Software by Third Light
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